Thursday, October 18, 2007



We made the old familiar trip to Penticton again today, up over the Yellow Lake Pass and down into the Okanagan Valley. As we left the first rain drops started falling, and by the time we got to Penticton we were in the midst of a full blown rain storm.

The colours were still beautiful, - more fragile and delicate, - they have lost the robust richness of the colours we saw a week ago. Here and there bare branches stand out against the subdued shades that now seem to dominate. I saw one tree that was a breath catching creamy yellow, so virginal in its last days . And a gorgeous glowing gold against the wet black rock of the roadside bank, - unfortunately in a spot where we couldn't stop.

The snow was only a few hundred feet above the road, and the clouds were sifting down the mountainsides.

Some of the pictures taken in hurried flashes from inside the moving car, in between arcs of the wipers......
There are wild winds forecast tonight, but at the moment all is still, and perhaps this quiet, protected valley will be spared the gusts. However, I do fear the melancholy month will soon be upon us with it's own stark beauty, and the leaves of autumn will be a memory.

No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face.
--John Donne

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

"God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination." - Saint Augustine of Hippo





Time flies, and so Today is Yesterday's Tomorrow......

Procrastination and I came toe to toe this morning. I retired to the loom room with a tape of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major (played by Radu Lupu and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra with Zubin Mehta conducting). Lovely background to my good intentions.

And the results........





Husband had peanut butter and honey sandwich for lunch - his contribution to winning the bout with Procrastination.

Tomorrow is another day........

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

PROCRASTINATION AND I are old comrades, - we have been together for as long as I can remember. We have a rather competitive relationship. Sometimes I have the upper hand, and things fly as I am imbued with passion and desire. Sometimes Procrastination has me firmly in his grip as I dawdle and dally, invent distractions and look to Tomorrow when all things will be accomplished and I will feel virtuous and in control again.

TOMORROW - what promises it holds today! And as tomorrow passes, without accomplishment, and the new tomorrow dawns, but is filled with idle errands and fatuous pleasures, - and IT is followed by days and days of the same ilk- finally, the Procrastinator, (or THIS Procrastinator at least, becomes bored with lazy days and mindless activities, and is challenged to Seize the Day!

I am hoping that I have arrived at this stage, and that tomorrow when Husband goes off to his singing morning, my body will make a left turn at the loom room, will sit itself down on the bench and commence the lovely, meditative throwing of the weft.

I try not to think about the disruptions that often accompany this activity, - the times I stop to choose a tape to play in accompaniment, - the bolts that become loosened and require me to crawl under the loom and make everything ship shape again, - the bobbin runs out of silk and I must go and wind another, - or perhaps I will wind two or three at the same time, and that can dispose of ten minutes of precious weaving time. Ah me, - I must be strong of will, stiffened with determination, and eventually the passion for what I am doing will conquer the old enemy.